How to Make Sinigang na Hipon sa Sampalok (Shrimp Tamarind Soup)

Something was weighing me down. I felt so unenthused, so out of it. The lack of rain was partly to blame. We haven’t had a good soaking in so long and we need rain so pressingly. Everything is parched, my sad self included. Parched and uninspired.

And so I turned to sinigang to lift my spirits. Sinigang is like the swell of sweet scent when I peel citrus. It is like the gush of crisp air when I run in the early morning. It is like rain, glorious rain, after a long dry spell. Sinigang has this effect on me. Stirring but at the same time calming. Comforting, without a doubt. Its familiar asim — its sourness — wakes up my senses. It unclutters my mind.

And so I slurped in delight. I puckered my lips. I peeled shrimp and dipped it in patis, in fish sauce. A jolt of sinigang’s biting but beguiling sourness was all I needed for a jolt of inspiration.

Shrimp is cooked in the shell with its head intact to retain as much of its flavor as possible. With a pair of kitchen shears, cut through the shell along its back starting from its head and ending right before its tail. Remove the black veins with a tip of a paring knife and rinse the shrimp with cold water. Set aside.

Place rice-water, onions, tomatoes, and daikon in a pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until daikon is almost cooked but still crunchy, about five to seven minutes.

Add shrimp and long beans. Stir in tamarind concentrate and fish sauce. Bring back to a boil and simmer until shrimp is cooked and beans are still bright green. Taste and adjust sourness. In place of tamarind concentrate, the popular sinigang mixes available in most Asian stores can be used. Add salt to taste.

This is one of my favorite dishes! I like to add watercress in mine, but it is hard to come by in Nebraska Love your posts!

Rio Pineda Sloan

My favorite! I wish I could cook this but getting fresh shrimps here in Missouri is just not possible.

Marican

My lips are smacking, puckering, mouth watering…..
THANKS. A. LOT!!
BTW- awesome comparison to missing rain, and the savory broth to feeling that all is right. All is right…
Lots of love to you, and your heart warming stories.

Anonymous

I totally empathize- this lack of rain (can we call it drought yet?) is getting me down too. It’s ironic that something liquid like soup can soothe during a ‘dry spell’! Let’s hope we get some respite soon.

Arielle

I came across this and I’m making it right now. I’ve already had dinner, but I’ve been trying to figure out how to make this without the Knorr MSG Sodium filled packets. Thank you!